Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4650300 Discrete Mathematics 2007 5 Pages PDF
Abstract

We consider the problem of determining the maximum number of moves required to sort a permutation of [n][n] using cut-and-paste operations, in which a segment is cut out and then pasted into the remaining string, possibly reversed. We give short proofs that every permutation of [n][n] can be transformed to the identity in at most ⌊2n/3⌋⌊2n/3⌋ such moves and that some permutations require at least ⌊n/2⌋⌊n/2⌋ moves.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Mathematics Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
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